Erie Canal
The Sessions Band/Bruce Springsteen Lyrics
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Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She's a good old worker and a good old pal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
We haul'd some barges in our day
Filled with lumber, coal and hay
We know every inch of the way
From Albany to Bufallo
Low bridge, ev'rybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbour
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
We'd better look around for a job, old gal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
You can bet your life I'll never part Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Get up mule, here comes a lock
We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock
One more trip and we'll go
Right back home to Buffalo
Low bridge, ev'rybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbour
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
Where would I be if I lost my pal?
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
I'd like to see a mule as good as my Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
A friend of mine once got her sore
Now he's got a broken jaw
'Cause she let fly with an iron toe
And kicked him back to Bufallo
Low bridge, ev'rybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbour
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
Low bridge, ev'rybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbour
And you'll always know your pal
If ya made your livin' on the Erie Canal
Low bridge, ev'rybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
The lyrics of this song, "Erie Canal," tell the story of a mule named Sal and her handler's navigation along the historic Erie Canal. The singer of the song, the mule's handler, praises Sal's work ethics and personality, describing her as a good old worker and a good old pal. He mentions the various cargos they've hauled together, such as lumber, coal, and hay, and how they know every inch of the way from Albany to Buffalo.
The chorus of the song, "Low bridge, everybody down, low bridge, we're coming to town," warns those on the canal of low bridges ahead, and the need to lower the sail and duck down. Along with the lyric that says, "You'll always know your neighbor, and you'll always know your pal if you ever navigated on the Erie Canal," the song emphasizes the sense of community among those who lived and worked on the canal. The singer ends the song by expressing his admiration and gratitude towards Sal while warning anyone who would bring her harm that she would retaliate with her fierce iron toes!
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a mule and her name is Sal
The singer owns a mule named Sal.
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
The distance the singer and Sal travel on the Erie Canal.
She's a good old worker and a good old pal
Sal is a reliable worker and a good companion to the singer.
We haul'd some barges in our day
The singer and Sal have transported barges on the canal before.
Filled with lumber, coal and hay
The goods that the barges carried.
We know every inch of the way
The singer and Sal are familiar with every part of the canal route.
From Albany to Bufallo
The area of the canal the singer and Sal are referring to.
Low bridge, ev'rybody down
A warning to duck under a low bridge approaching on the canal.
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
The singer and Sal are approaching a town with a low bridge.
You'll always know your neighbour
In communities along the canal, locals had close relationships with one another.
And you'll always know your pal
For those who traveled the canal, the journey provided a special bond between them and their animals, such as Sal.
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
A nod to those who have traveled the canal before and know its quirks and features.
We'd better look around for a job, old gal
The singer and Sal are on the lookout for work on the canal.
You can bet your life I'll never part Sal
The singer declares their loyalty to Sal and will never part with her.
Get up mule, here comes a lock
The singer urges Sal to move as they approach a lock on the canal.
We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock
The singer and Sal will be in Rome around 6 p.m.
One more trip and we'll go
The goal is to make one more trip on the canal before returning home.
Right back home to Buffalo
The singer and Sal's home base is in Buffalo.
Where would I be if I lost my pal?
The singer ponders what their life would be like without Sal.
I'd like to see a mule as good as my Sal
The singer boasts about Sal's superior abilities compared to other mules on the canal.
A friend of mine once got her sore
Someone upset Sal in the past.
Now he's got a broken jaw
Sal attacked the person who made her upset and broke their jaw.
'Cause she let fly with an iron toe
Sal used a swift kick with her hoof, known as an iron toe in those days.
And kicked him back to Bufallo
The person was physically removed from the canal and sent back to Buffalo.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@here_we_go_again2571
Aqueducts were one of
the new features of the
"expanded/improved"
Erie Canal. In most
places, It was dug
parallel to the original
canal (called Clinton's
Ditch (b.1917 -- 1925)
The improved canal
is now called the OLD
Erie Canal* consited
of manmade channels
that allowed for
control of water levels
all along the canal
(A huge advance!)
There were no longer
locks on each side of
a creek or small river
that the boats had
to go down, cross
the natural channel
(towed my mules
going across on
a bridge) and be
lifted up in another
lockto the canal
path (i.e. prism, berm
and towpath)
*The Erie Canal was
replaced by the
Barge Canal
(b.1903/05 -- 1918)
that takes advantage
of dredged river
channels and also
natural lakes. It
still has locks
(only 35 locks)
Clinton's Ditch had
84 lift locks and
13 stream/river
locks.
The Old Erie Canal
had about 60-some
lift locks and no
lateral/river locks.
@here_we_go_again2571
@stflaw
The original (written in 1902)
was in the Tin Pan Alley style
(more like a Minstral song.
not jazzy)
In 1901/1902 NY state
announced that it would be
constructing a new canal:
Barge Canal (b.1903 -- 1918)
AND THAT
It would be using almost a
whole new route. Also that
the new canal would be much
wider and deeper (over
12/deep/ 3.7+ m. deep)
to accomadte
1.) larger (steel) barges that
could also operate on the
Great Lakes. Therefore
eliminating transfer of cargo
from a lake vessel to a barge
vessel. And ...
2.) Barges that used coal (and
later) diesel fuel engines (No
towpath)
No wonder some people felt
sentimental about the OLD
Erie Canal.
@Strathclydegamer
I gotta mule and her name is Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. She’s a good old worker and a good old pal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
We’d haul some barges in our day, filled with lumber, coal and hay. We know every inch of the way, from Albany to Buffalo.
Low bridge! Everybody down, low bridge, we’re coming to a town.
You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal!
Better look around for a job old gal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Bet your life I’d never part with Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Get up mule here comes a lock, we’ll make Rome by six o’clock. One more trip and back we’ll go; right back home to Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbours and you’ll always know your pal if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.
Instrumental awesomeness
Where would I be if I lost my pal? Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. I’d like to see a mule good as my Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Friend of mine once got her sore, now he’s got a broken jaw. She let fly with an iron toe, and kicked him back to Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever made a living on the Erie Canal!
@Strathclydegamer
I gotta mule and her name is Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. She’s a good old worker and a good old pal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
We’d haul some barges in our day, filled with lumber, coal and hay. We know every inch of the way, from Albany to Buffalo.
Low bridge! Everybody down, low bridge, we’re coming to a town.
You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal!
Better look around for a job old gal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. Bet your life I’d never part with Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Get up mule here comes a lock, we’ll make Rome by six o’clock. One more trip and back we’ll go; right back home to Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbours and you’ll always know your pal if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.
Instrumental awesomeness
Where would I be if I lost my pal? Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal. I’d like to see a mule good as my Sal, fifteen miles on the Erie Canal.
Friend of mine once got her sore, now he’s got a broken jaw. She let fly with an iron toe, and kicked him back to Buffalo.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.
Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, we’re coming to a town. You’ll always know your neighbour and you’ll always know your pal, if you’ve ever made a living on the Erie Canal!
@wolterenanjaoosterhuis5915
I've got a mule and her name is Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
She's a good old worker and a good old pal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
We haul'd some barges in our day
Filled with lumber, coal, and hay
We know every inch of the way
From Albany to Buffalo
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, yeah we're coming to a town
And you'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
We'd better look around for a job, old gal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
You can bet your life I'll never part with Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
Get up mule, here comes a lock
We'll make Rome 'bout six o'clock
One more trip and back we'll go
Right back home to Buffalo
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
Where would I be if I lost my pal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
I'd like to see a mule good as my Sal
Fifteen miles on the Erie Canal
A friend of mine once got her sore
Now he's got a broken jaw
'Cause she let fly with an iron toe
And kicked him back to Buffalo
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge 'cause we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
You'll always know your neighbor
And you'll always know your pal
If ya ever made a livin' on the Erie Canal
Low bridge, everybody down*
Low bridge, we're coming to a town*
You'll always know your neighbor*
And you'll always know your pal*
If ya ever navigated on the Erie Canal*
Low bridge, everybody down
Low bridge, we're coming to a town
Hooo...
@here_we_go_again2571
15 miles was inserted in
some versions later on.
The orginal had much
more regarding Sal.
15 miles doesn't make
much sense to me.
Although, I do not
know how many
miles were covered
in 24 hours.
If I am not mistaken
15 years was the working
lifespan of a young mule
(barring injury or illness)
@albaarboleda2913
Learned this song in elementary school in Carmel, California - loved it then, love it now - and LOVED finding Springsteen had done it in concert! THE BOSS!!!
@Strathclydegamer
I was on holiday in France, visiting family. One night we’re having a few drinks and relaxing to music, my step-Dad put this on and it was the first time I’d heard it. I’m now addicted 😂
@hscollier
We sang this folk song in elementary school in a small town in West Texas. Later I married a woman whose family had a store at a lock on the Erie Canal in Central New York. They were surprised that I knew the song. Her family still owns a house across the road from the modern canal.
@RichardGilbert2727
WOW! I've been singing this song to the grandkids and checked out Bruce's version. This is so great. Love the arrangement and what else the band brings as well as Bruce's soulful singing.
@merlebump5328
This song just came into my head. we learned the original version in elementary music. As a Western New Yorker, it's really cool to hear people across the pond singing this. I never new Springstein did a cover.
@GilbertNeal
Same.
@jamesf9417
I went to school out in Greece and learned this song. Now I live near Syracuse and no one I’ve talked to knows the song
@merlebump5328
@James F possibly because orangemen bad. they think they are the center of the state or something
@merlebump5328
@Klaas Sikkema welcome to Buffalo. you can see lots of snow and chicken wings. And of course the amazing Buffalo Bills. :-)
@GilbertNeal
@James F Syracuse New York?? For shame. SHAME